Machines for removing surface cracks and flaws from rough steel products

ABSTRACT

Machine for removing surface cracks and flaws from steelwork products which comprises a rotary grinding wheel adapted to perform a rectilinear horizontal movement of translation, advantageously of alternating type, at an adjustable height. The outer end of the swivel horizontal radial arm of an upright rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the frame structure of the machine carries a swivel bracket trunnioned about a vertical axis and maintained in a fixed direction by a link interconnecting a pair of studs rigid the one with said frame structure and the other with said swivel bracket. A beam adapted to pivot about a horizontal pivot pin rigid with said swivel bracket has a upper end connected to one point of said swivel bracket through a first actuator and a lower end pivoted to an arm supporting the grinding wheel at a height determined by another actuator connecting one point of said wheel carrier arm to one point of said swivel bracket.

United States Patent Gazuit [54] MACHINES FOR REMOVING SURFACE CRACKS AND FLAWS FROM ROUGH STEEL PRODUCTS [72] Inventor: Georges Gazuit, Chemin Chauveau, 03

Montlucon, France [22] Filed: July 1, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 51,619

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 1, 1969 France ..6926539 [52] U.S.Cl. ..51/34 D,51/47,51/99 [51] Int. Cl ..B24b 7/00 [58] Field oiSearch ..51/34 R, 47,34 C, 34D, 34 E, 51/34 F, 56, 99

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,704,913 3/1955 Soderlund ..51/47 2,718,732 9/1955 Comstock ..51/47 A1 V1 V6 1 Feb. 15,1972

2,769,280 11/1956 Comstock .5 l /47 Primary ExaminerWilliam R. Armstrong Attorney-Amster & Rothstein [57] ABSTRACT Machine for removing surface cracks and flaws from steelwork products which comprises a rotary grinding wheel adapted to perform a rectilinear horizontal movement of translation, advantageously of alternating type, at an adjustable height. The outer end of the swivel horizontal radial arm of an upright rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the frame structure of the machine carries a swivel bracket trunnioned about a vertical axis and maintained in a fixed direction by a link interconnecting a pair of studs rigid the one with said frame structure and the other with said swivel bracket. A beam adapted to pivot about a horizontal pivot pin rigid with said swivel bracket has a upper end connected to one point of said swivel bracket through a first actuator and a lower end pivoted to an arm supporting the grinding wheel at a height determined by another actuator connecting one point of said wheel carrier arm to one point of said swivel bracket.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 15 I972 3.641.709

SHEET 1 [IF 2 MACHINES FOR REMOVING SURFACE CRACKS AND F LAWS FROM ROUGH STEEL PRODUCTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a chipper or like machine of the type used in steelworks for eliminating surface cracks and flaws of rough steel products, this machine comprising essentially a rotary grinding wheel adapted to perform a rectilinear, horizontal and advantageously alternating movement at an adjustable height.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine of this type wherein the various parts are movable in relation to each other only by pivoting about assembling pins, any slideway mounting being definitely precluded.

The advantageous feature characterizing this machine is that wear and tear of parts in relative movement in a particularly corrosive medium are reduced considerably, while permitting a substantial acceleration of the movements performed by the grinding wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, the outer end of the swivel horizontal radial arm of an upright rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the frame structure of the machine carries a swivel bracket trunnioned about a vertical axis and maintained in a constant direction by a link interconnecting a pair of studs rigid the one with said frame structure and the other with said swivel bracket, and a beam fulcrumed to a horizontal pivot pin rigid with said swivel bracket has an upper end connected to one point of said swivel bracket through a first actuator and a lower end pivoted to an arm supporting the grinding wheel at a height determined by another actuator connecting one point ofsaid wheel carrier arm to one point of said swivel bracket.

Moreover, means are provided for automatically controlling the first actuator in a manner responsive to the pivoting movement of said horizontal arm on said frame structure so that the movements of horizontal translation impressed to the grinding wheel are rectilinear movements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features and advantages of the machine according to this invention will appear more completely from the following description, given by way of illustration with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a lateral elevational view with parts shown in vertical section taken along a mesial plane of the radial arm and along the mesial plane of the beam;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding plan view from above;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram concerning the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another explanatory diagram showing in thick lines the grinding wheel positions for the radial arm orientation shown in FIG. 2 and in dash lines the wheel positions for other orientations ofthis arm;

FIG. 5 is a similar diagram showing the grinding wheel positions after a movement for controlling the inclination of the wheel axis in relation to its direction of translation;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing on a larger scale and more completely details of the arrangement of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Rotatably mounted on the frame structure H of the machine about a vertical axis A is an upright carrying a radial swivel arm I supporting at its outer end a swivel bracket J pivotally mounted about a vertical axis B. A point B, of said swivel bracket is connected to a point A, rigid with the frame structure of the machine by means of a link K holding the swivel bracket J in a constant direction in all the directions of the swivel arm I. Pivoted to a horizontal pin C rigid with said swivel bracket J is a beam L having its upper end pivoted at E to the rod of an actuator V, having its body or cylinder pivotally mounted to said swivel bracket J. Pivoted to the lower end D of said beam is an arm M having an intermediate point connected through another actuator V to a point G of said swivel bracket J, the outer end of said arm M supporting the shaft of the grinding wheel N.

By operating two other actuators V, and V, interconnecting two points rigid with the swivel radial arm I to two points rigid with the frame structure of the machine, the pivotal movements of this arm can be controlled at will. Each angular movement of arm M causes the grinding wheel N to perform a horizontal movement of translation. If the actuator V, were not operated, this movement of translation would be a circular movement. To obtain as desired a rectilinear movement of translation, the hydrostatic feed arrangement of actuator V, is contemplated as illustrated in FIG. 6 and comprises another actuator V carried by the upright swivel arm I of the machine, this other actuator V has its rod engaged against the contour of a cam O rigid with the frame structure H. The movements of grinding wheel N, within the amplitude at of the angular movements performed by the arm I will thus be converted into rectilinear horizontal movements of translation, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4. To modify at will the height of this rectilinear horizontal movement of translation, the operator controls in the proper direction the actuator V so as to raise or lower the arm D and the shaft F ofgrinding wheel N.

The connecting point A, of the link may be rigidly fastened to the frame structure of the machine by means of a strap AA, QEIG. 2) rotatably mounted about the swivel axis A of the machine upright and retained in the desired position by an actuator V reacting against the frame structure H. As the axis H of grinding wheel N remains parallel to AA,, when the actuator V is energized to set the swivel bracket J in alignment with radial arm I, the arrangement shown in the diagram of FIG. 4 wherein the plane of the grinding wheel is at right angles to its direction of translation will be obtained. When it is desired to grind in an oblique direction, operating the actuator V will shift the strap AA, by an angle [3 in relation to the direction of translation of the grinding wheel, thus inclining the plane of this wheel in this direction by the same angle B as shown in FIG. 5.

I claim:

1. Machine for removing surface cracks and flaws from steelwork products comprising a frame structure, an upright rotatably mounted on the frame structure about a vertical axis, and having a swivel horizontal radial arm with an outer end, a swivel bracket trunnioned about a vertical axis on said outer end of the swivel horizontal radial arm, a pair of studs rigid the one with the frame structure and the other with the swivel bracket a link interconnecting said studs and maintaining the swivel brackets in a fixed direction, a beam pivotally mounted about an horizontal axis on the swivel bracket, said beam having an upper end, and a lower end, a first actuator carried by the swivel bracket and connected to the upper end of the beam, an arm pivotally carried about an horizontal axis by the lower end of the beam, a carrier rigidly mounted on said arm, an other actuator connecting said carrier with the swivel bracket and determining the height of said carrier relatively to the frame structure, the first actuator controlling the displacement of said carrier in respect of the fixed direction of the swivel bracket, and a grinding wheel rotatably mounted in said carrier.

2. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the first actuator is an hydrostatic actuator and comprising a third actuator carried by the swivel arm and having a piston rod engaged against the contour of a cam rigid with the frame structure, said third actuator hydrostatically controlling the first actuator, in a manner responsive to the swiveling movement of the swivel arm and maintaining zero the displacements of the carrier in respect of the fixed direction of the swivel bracket.

3. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a fourth actuator and a fifth actuator connecting the swivel radial arm to the frame structure to control the swiveling movements of said swivel radial arm in respect to the frame structure.

4. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a strap pivotaliy mounted on the frame structure about the vertical axis of the upright. a sixth actuator connecting said strap to the frame structure, said strap carrying the one stud rigid with the frame structure and thus of reguiatable position on said 5 frame structure. 

1. Machine for removing surface cracks and flaws from steelwork products comprising a frame structure, an upright rotatably mounted on the frame structure about a vertical axis, and having a swivel horizontal radial arm with an outer end, a swivel bracket trunnioned about a vertical axis on said outer end of the swivel horizontal radial arm, a pair of studs rigid the one with the frame structure and the other with the swivel bracket a link interconnecting said studs and maintaining the swivel brackets in a fixed direction, a beam pivotally mounted about an horizontal axis on the swivel bracket, said beam having an upper end, and a lower end, a first actuator carried by the swivel bracket and connected to the upper end of the beam, an arm pivotally carried about an horizontal axis by the lower end of the beam, a carrier rigidly mounted on said arm, an other actuator connecting said carrier with the swivel bracket and determining the height of said carrier relatively to the frame structure, the first actuator controlling the displacement of said carrier in respect of the fixed direction of the swivel bracket, and a grinding wheel rotatably mounted in said carrier.
 2. Machine according to claim 1 wherein the first actuator is an hydrostatic actuator and comprising a third actuator carried by the swivel arm and having a piston rod engaged against the contour of a cam rigid with the frame structure, said third actuator hydrostatically controlling the first actuator, in a manner responsive to the swiveling movement of the swivel arm and maintaining zero the displacements of the carrier in respect of the fixed direction of the swivel bracket.
 3. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a fourth actuator and a fifth actuator connecting the swivel radial arm to the frame structure to control the swiveling movements of said swivel radial arm in respect to the frame structure.
 4. Machine according to claim 1 comprising a strap pivotally mounted on the frame structure about the vertical axis of the upright, a sixth actuator connecting said strap to the frame structure, said strap carrying the one stud rigid with the frame structure and thus of regulatable position on said frame structure. 